1
as in darkened
being without light or without much light
I didn't like walking around the murky campground without a flashlight
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dark
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
the murky shadows of the cemetery
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3
as in hazy
filled with or dimmed by fine particles (as of dust or water) in suspension
skies made murky from the smoke of forest fires that were many miles to the west
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4
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning
a murky reply to a question about his intentions
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5
as in vague
not seen or understood clearly
a gubernatorial candidate with a murky position on the hot-button issue of capital punishment
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of murky
Avoid murky or low-visibility water.
—
Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 9 June 2026
In Poe’s gothic retelling, our murderer’s motivation is as murky as the cataract in the victim’s eye.
—Sloane Crosley, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
Don’t swim in warm, stagnant, or murky freshwater lakes, for starters.
—Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 8 June 2026
However, the future of prices remains murky.
—Miami Herald Staff Report, Miami Herald, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for murky
Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 9 June 2026
In Poe’s gothic retelling, our murderer’s motivation is as murky as the cataract in the victim’s eye.
—Sloane Crosley, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
Don’t swim in warm, stagnant, or murky freshwater lakes, for starters.
—Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 8 June 2026
However, the future of prices remains murky.
—Miami Herald Staff Report, Miami Herald, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for murky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for murky
Adjective
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She’s talked up her push to convert darkened streetlights, many of them stripped of their copper wire, to solar power.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
-
In the darkened foyer, Ember contemplated this unassuming bit of paper, momentarily paralyzed by a mixture of dread and excitement stirred together, an overpowering sensation that oozed from the crown of her head, down the length of her body, then hardened, like a soft golden resin becoming solid.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But the true story behind it is a dark, sad and overall pretty confusing one.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
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Trudeau embraced the Southern California vibes and wore a green T-shirt with black shorts and a pair of dark sunglasses.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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Prometheus offers an answer — a hazy one, given the few specifics on offer — of something that’s been hard to see two years into this hype cycle.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
11 June 2026
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Meanwhile, Maze of Dreams by Fine Scents captures the feel of a hazy memory or atmosphere.—
Laia Farran Graves,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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Sarah felt quite lost and unclear and ambiguous in a way.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Dec. 2025
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But the episode's conclusion could also function as a suitably ambiguous ending.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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On Monday, general manager Ross Atkins provided a vague update on where the team stands with Bichette.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Dec. 2025
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There is a before, and an after—and then there is the vast, vague, barely hinted at emptiness in between.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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In Meetings, Merlin sat agitated with a folder of newspaper clippings in his lap, occasionally shedding bleak confetti.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Aug. 2025
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On paper, business over the next few weeks looks bleak.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Ciudad Perdida, Colombia Hidden deep within the misty peaks of Colombia’s Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the ancient city of Teyuna—better known as Ciudad Perdida—is one of South America’s most extraordinary archaeological sites.—
Carla Vianna,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
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For spring, Ishizu says to go more muted and misty-toned and opt for those soft blue shades.—
Audrey Noble,
Vogue,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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After his split with longtime girlfriend Katy Perry, the Pirates of the Caribbean actor took to his social media to give a pretty cryptic update about his life.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
1 July 2025
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Around 20 people received cryptic messages to attend appointments at a South Loop building housing an ICE program, where they were later detained by federal law enforcement officers.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
1 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Murky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/murky. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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